Mt. Jackson on a crisp Sunday

U P D A T E  as of Saturday morning 10/22 - The forecast is now calling for a sunny fall day, with temps around 50 at the trailhead and 40 at the summit - near perfect for keeping cool on the ascent. There may be some wind on the summit, so a shell jacket, eye covering (sunglasses OK), hat and light gloves will be useful just in case.

On what most likely will be a crisp, breezy fall day, we'll pay a Sunday afternoon visit to the open summit of Mt. Jackson, the southernmost 4,000 footer of the Presidential Range. We'll eat lunch on the way up, and from the summit will enjoy great views of Crawford Notch, the Presidential Range, and the numerous mountains of the Pemi region. This summit is also well known for its population of brash Gray Jays, eager to get their fair share of the snack action. 
 
This hike comprises 7 miles of distance round trip, with 2100' of elevation gain, which we'll take at a moderate pace. I estimate that we'll be back to our cars by approximately 3:30, at which point those of us who are interested can cap the afternoon with a beer and snack for the road at one of the eateries in nearby Bretton Woods or Twin Mountain before we head home.
 
Weather-wise, we should expect temperatures to be in the 50s on the way up, and 40s on the summit. It's quite variable, however, so I'll be making final gear recommendations the day before, based on the latest weather forecast.   If by Friday it looks as though Sunday's weather will be poor but Saturday's OK, I will move the trip up a day to Saturday for those who can make it.
 
Lastly, this trip comes with two optional possibilities. First, if there's unanimous interest once we're atop Jackson, we can visit the adjacent Mt. Webster, famous for its spectacular cliff top views into Crawford Notch, before heading down. This would add approximately 45 minutes to our trip time. Second, if you're interested in an additional workout for the day, ask me about the fast-paced hike I'll be doing earlier in the morning - or alternatively, check out the Bonds trip that's also happening on this date.